;
4
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»

limits

territorial

-begin in December.

3rd.

Section

AUTOPLAN

ICBC President Robert
Strachan confirmed Tuesday
that most British -Columbia
motcrists will pay less for their
1975-76 Auloplan insurance, and

’ at the same time made a strong

pitch for eventual flat-rate car
insurance across the province.
Strachan, Minister of

_ ‘Transport and Communications

in the NDP cabinet that in-
troduced compulsory goven-

ment auto insurance on March 1 fot

of this year, -lold a. news- con-
ference thal the savings to
motorisis: have been made,
possible-Because of additional
revenue coming to the govern-
ment through petroleum
resources,

"We made revenues available .

to ICBC with only one simple
Buideline: "Use as a first slep
toward uniform rates,"’
Strachan said. :
Norman Bortnick, ICBC vice-
president and general manager
than outlined details of
Autoplan ‘75, calling it
“agsentially good news for the
motorists of British Columbia.”
The highlights:

» Rale-tables and coverage
introduced when
Autoplad was. established this
year will remain virtually. the
same.in 1975-76, bul the actual
cost to vehicle owners will drop
through -. application af
equalization
discounts.

+ Despite the move loward a.

uniferm-rale concept, there will
be ‘no increase ‘in premiums

“paid by. Victoria motorists, who’:
will cantinue to enjoy the lowest

rales in the pravince. :
- No-fault accident benefits
for housewives will be payable

to amaximum of. 104 weeks:
instead of 26 weeks, giving [hem —

the same benefil as employed
persons,

+ Collision coverage will
again .be mandatory ‘for all
vehicles registered in 1967. or
later,
equalization. discounts en-

-gourages:. owners: of : alder -

vehicles: :to \also. lake vul
collision insurance.. *

~ The territorial equalization

_ discounts for privale passenger.

cars and light ‘trucks, .as

“guilined. by. Bortnick,- are “as :

follows: |
-Terrilory . ‘A
Vancouver) S36..

- Territory C (Upper Van- 4

couver Island) $18,
- Territory J (Fraser Valley!

$24.

- Territory M ‘Southern In-
lerior 324,

- Territory T (Northern B.C.)
S48,
“If the owner of a. pre-1967
vehicle does nol buy a collision
coverage, {he grant drops to $18

in Territory A, to $4 in Territory

C.to $8 in Territory J, to $2 in

‘Territory M, and to $12 in

Territory T.
4 fal 20 percent cammercial -
recreational discount. will be

applied to rates on all- other

vehicles - taxis, U-drives,
Wrailers, motorcycles, ete., aud
all trucks aver 8,000 pounds
gross vehicle weight.

Bortnick said that since these.

commercial Vehicles are not
rates (erritorlally in the same
Manner as passenger cars, the
20 percent ciscount applies
throughout the. province, in:
cluding Victoria,

The ICBC general manager
said mailing of motorists’
Autoplan. renewal forms will
They will
show - lhe existing rale, the
“amount of the discount, and the
actual fee to be paid.

‘Both Bertnick and Strachan
emphasized’ that future
Autoplan rates will be deter-
mined by the cast of claims.

’ “IF we can gel the safety
message “across if B.C,
becomes a province of safer
drivers, then there is no

“and, the system: af-

question that we will continue io
enjoy low-cost car insurance,”
Strachan said.

He. said Autoplan rales
eslablished last March 1 were
the equivalent of the rates
charged in 1972 by private in-
surance companies. He said
private companies had in-
creased rates about 40 percent
elsewhere in Canada since then.

The minister said ICBC is
holding rates down In the face of
this inflaton because if is non-
profit, has much lawer
operational costs,‘ and turns
investment . income back to
Autoplan to help hold ihe line on
rales.

Strachan, who outlined what
he lermed sonie ‘philosophical
concepls’’ .;béfore inviting
Borlnick to give the “dollars
and cents” details of Autoplan,
25, said he wanted it clearly
understood that the ultimate
objective of the NDP provincial
government is uniformly rated
auto insurance across British
Columbia.

“By uniform rales I don't

mean that every vehicle owner
“whl pay exaclly the same

premium, but'l do. mean. thal
the specific owner of a specific

vehicle’ used ‘for’ a specific -

purpose would pay exactly. the

‘same ‘rale whether he lives in’:
Vancouver. Vanderhoof, or.

Victoria.”

Strachan ‘said Auloplan can -

be consideréd as a (raffic ac-

eident compensation fund, and
said the same principles should’
‘apply as hdve always applied in
‘such programs: as “hospithl

insurance, medicare insurance

and workers’ compensation 7

insurance,

“Mere “location of an. in--
‘dividual’s residence would not

produce a different levy if other -
factors. are the same for that
individual,'" he said.
Strachan said ‘‘old line’
insurance people may disagree -

with this. philosaphy,:bul said’

the: rales-by-terrilory . system
can “be carried - to. ridiculous ;

‘exiremes. -. *
-“Shauld® we. “ give: Victoria...

residents who live on Fort

Street lower. rates han hose ..

who live on Douglas Street? ..,

“Doubtless -we’ could; come’ up“
‘wilh’ statistics to justify a dif

(Greater .
- of the same street,,.”"

ferent: rate for, different: blocks

Although. Autoplan "75 relians
the six territories eslablished
(his year, Strachan said the

-equalization discounts are’ the

first step “and it’ 5a big slep’! --

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toward (he ultimale-objective of
‘a uniform-raie system.

The minisler also cited some
example of rales in B.C. and
elsewhere in Canada, and urged
the newspapers of B.C. /to
publish - additional direct
comparisons.

He said the 45-year-old driver
of a 1974 Chevrolet. Belair who
uses his car lo drive to wark will
pay only $131 for his basic 1975-

. 76 Autoplan insurance if he lives

in Vancouver, only $104-if he
lives in Victoria.

Basic coverage , in British
Columbia is $55, 600, ‘public
liability, no-fault accident and
medical benefits, collision
coverage with a $250 deductible,
and comprehensive coverage
with a $50 deductible, .

‘Strachan said this’ coverage

-would cost the man $180. in

Toronto, “$253° in Montreal and
$168 in "Calgary, and he said
those rates are expected to rise
as much as 15 _Percent in

> Janiary.
He said if the Chev owner" s 1B.

year old son uses the family car,
the differences in rates are even
more staggering: In Vancouver

the premium would be $151, in.

Victoria $116, in Toronto $346, in’

“Montreal $469, and in. Calgary
_ $321,

Strachan also said thai driver
certificates, in addition. to

. drivers’ licences will continue”
_fo, be compulsory: in’ British
* Colurnbia, bul he said they will

‘be Issued free to motorists with
good driving: records, .

in 1978, 2:
B.C, drivers with six or more
demerit, points for driving -in-

‘You could |
win. cash’.

- Call the herald:
with your news

‘Tip

Tindall x

School Trustee”

Such ©:
motorists now pay abasic $10
driver certificate fee. whieh  .°..

Strachan said will be phased oul

fractions such as impatred
driving, speeding, illegal turns,
running stop signs, elc, will
continue to pay a fee for their
driver certificate based on the
square of the demerit points.
Six demerit points will mean a
$36 fee for.a driver certificale,
10 points will mean a fee of $109,
etc. The maximum fee for a
driver certificate will be $400,
for those drivers with 20 or
mare demerit points.

He warned drivers against
trying lo “jump the gun” on this
elimination of the basic fee and
said driver certificales mus! be
renewed as requested, even by
those drivers paying only the
basic $10, until the phase-out is
completed. The penalty for
driving in B.C, without a valid
driver ‘certificate Is an
automatic. $250 fine and an
automatié 10 demerit points,

Bortnick,. before giving
details of Autoplan °75, said the

‘government Insurance scheme

was Introduced on schedule lasi
March 1 “and I am proud of the

ICBC emplayees who made thal .

possible, "

‘save $12...

‘These savings will be distributed in the form
of Territorial Equalization Discounts as the first
step towards the creation of a uniform Autoplan
premium rating system throughout the province. ,

ood news from

in surance
wi
next year. —

In spite of soaring accident claim costs and
. increasing insurance rates everywhere else in North
‘America, . most motorists in the Northern B.C*
wi area will pay less for Autoplan insurance‘in 1975.
“For private passenger cars and light trucks
with full insurance coverage, savings will be $48.
' ~ o> Older-cars and light trucks. which do not carry
optional collision and comprehensive coverage will

subject to a continuous safety check as part of an
employee accident prevention program designed by
the company’s safety department.

A Pre-Winter Safety Equipment Inspection on
company vehicles is performed by B.C. Telephone
Supervisor Genie Morrow. All company vehicles are

Autoplan:

ll cost less

Commercial and recreational vehicles will re-
ceive a slandard twenty per cent discount. oe
Specific information on the discount for the.
vehicle you own will be shown on the Autoplan
renewal form which will be mailed to you at the’
end of the year. . ;
Meanwhile, if you have any questions, just. .
phone the Autoplan information centre. Dial -your :
Operator to call collect to Vancouver 665-2800. ©
‘And remember: Autoplan is. lowering .your -- ;
car insurance costs but it’s up to you to keep. them
down through safe. driving. ' ‘

~. "Insurance Territory “T”,

’

INSURANCE. CORPORATION.
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA —

your insura nce com pany.

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